Centrifugal Pump
Types of Centrifugal Pump
Centrifugal pumps are classified based on the number of impellers, type of casing,
orientation, and position.
1) Based on the number of impellers
a) Single stage impeller
b) Multistage impeller
2) Based on the type of casing
a) Turbine pump
b) Volute pump
3) Based on the orientation of the fluid
a) Radial flow pump
b) Axial flow pump
c) Mixed flow pump
4) Based on the position of the pump
a) Horizontal pump
b) Vertical pump
c) Submersible pump
1) Based on the number of impellers:
a) Single-Stage Centrifugal Pump:
• Consists of a single impeller rotating within a pump casing.
• Simple design and available in many variations.
b) Multistage Centrifugal Pump:
• Multiple impellers connected in series within the pump casing.
• Fluid enters the first impeller and leaves at higher pressure in the
subsequent stage.
• Provides better efficiency due to tighter impeller clearances.
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Centrifugal Pump
2) Based on the type of casing:
a) Turbine Pump:
• Popular type with blades mounted on the impeller and fixed to the diffuser
ring.
• Fluid flows through cavities under high pressure.
• Suitable for clean liquid applications requiring high head, low flow,
compact design, and flexible operation.
b) Volute Pump:
• The impeller is covered by the volute casing.
• Maintains fluid velocity through the diffuser, minimizing energy losses.
• Suitable for applications where kinetic energy conversion to maximum-
valued potential energy is not crucial.
3) Based on the orientation of the fluid:
a) Radial Flow Pump:
• Fluid leaves the impeller in a radial direction, generating high centrifugal
force.
• Commonly used in lift irrigation, drainage, nuclear power plants, seawater
handling, freshwater supply, and boiler feed.
b) Axial Flow Pump:
• Water enters radially and discharges axially.
• Provides high flow rates at relatively short heads.
• Used for large volume flows over small delivery heads and to propel
incompressible fluids.
c) Mixed Flow Pump:
• Fluid moves along the axis for half the distance, then radially.
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Centrifugal Pump
• Offers a moderate direction between radial and axial flow.
4) Based on the position of the pump
a) Horizontal Pump:
• Fluid is continuously pumped from a central suction nozzle.
• Delivers liquid at high-speed using a drive motor.
• Reliable and suitable for various water applications.
b) Vertical Pump:
• Delivers liquids using a motor, suitable for high-speed transport of
chemicals.
• Designed for handling corrosive liquids in wastewater treatment, sump
drainage, tank transfer, and other industrial applications.
c) Submersible Pump:
• Moves water to the surface by converting rotary energy into kinetic and
pressure energy.
• Suitable for various applications, including gray water, black waste,
chemicals, etc.
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Centrifugal Pump
• Selected based on fluid characteristics like high head and low flow or low
head and high flow rate.
Advantages of Centrifugal Pump
1. The most significant advantage of centrifugal pumps is their simplicity.
2. This pump allows them to run at high speeds with minimal maintenance.
3. They don’t require any valves or many moving parts.
4. They are suitable for large discharge and smaller heads.
5. Their output is very steady and consistent.
6. Centrifugal pumps provide a lot of flexibility, are easy to move, and don’t take
up a lot of space.
7. They do not have problems (meaning less prone) with leakage and heat transfer.
8. These pumps have very little power loss due to friction.
Disadvantages of Centrifugal Pump
1. The pump uses rotation rather than suction to move the water. Therefore, it has
no suction power.
2. Centrifugal pumps always face cavitation problems.
3. During pump operation, there may be a possibility of misalignment of the shaft.
4. These pumps are not built to operate with highly viscous liquids as well as high
heads (limited to only a head of 50m).
5. It also damages the seal ring, worn ring, and impeller.
Application of Centrifugal Pump
1. These pumps are popularly used in domestic applications like pumping water
from one place to another.
2. They are also used in refrigerant and coolant recirculation.
3. This pump is also used for drainage, irrigation, and sprinkling.
4. Centrifugal pumps are widely used in gas and oil industries for pumping
slurry, mud, and oil.
5. These pumps are also valuable for sewage systems.
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Centrifugal Pump
Priming in a Centrifugal Pump
Priming is the operation in which the suction pipe, casing of the pump, and a portion
of the pipe up to the delivery valve are filled up from an outside source with the liquid
to be raised by the pump before starting the pump.
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